Faucet-knob.



rrnn STATES PATENT Fido.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

1 Application filed May 9,1904. Serial No- 207,075-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY A. RUETER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the Commonwealth of Massachw. setts, have invented an Improvement in a Faucet-Knob, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In certain relations the knobs or handles of articles such as faucets are subjected to very trying conditions of useas, for, instance,

when used for dispensing liquors, inasmuch as the constant moisture and chemical efiects of the liquids operate to corrode and injure the same.

Accordingly my invention has for its object the provision of means for preventing the above-mentioned result,said means deriving its advantages largely from the method ,of its manufacture.

Stated in general terms, my invention resides in partially molding or vulcanizing a knob of vulcanizable material, then putting in position the metal ortion, such as the plate or face disk, and t en tightly compressing the partly-vulcanized knob to its permanent shape and then completing the Vulcan ization thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown suflicient details of the knob made according to my invention to enable the latter to be readily understood, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a completely-finished knob. Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section showing the relation of the knob to a dispensing-faucet; and Fig. 3 showsine'dge view, partly broken out, the enameled face-plate used with the knob.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the knob consists of a body part a, on the opposite sides of which face-plates or enameled disks a are mounted for ornamental purposes and otherwise. These knobs in use are threaded to receive at b a stem 1), pivoted at 6 for operating a usual faucet. In use these knobs arealmost continually moist and almost invariably corrode and become offensive about the edges of the plate a. 'The usual manner of making these knobs has been to spring the plate into lace; but on account of the enamel a the pl ate cannot bend appreciably, and hence the joint is defective, and inevitably a rim of corrosion is the result.

-manufacture also enables the Various expedients have been resorted to fon preventing this result, but without success. In accordance with my invention, however, I first mold the body portion a of vulcanizable material and artially vulcanize the same. Having done t 's, I place the enameled plate a in position, one of said plates at each side of the knob, as shown, and then, holding said plates retained properly in position, the overhanging portion a; of the knob is ressed tightly down upon the edge of the p ate, as indicated at a and the vulcanization is then completed, the result being that the enamel a of the plate (1 remains perfect, the plate is permanently held into position, and there isno chance of corrosion, because the rubber or 'other vulcanizable compound has been vulcanized in direct closing contact around the edges .of the plate.

The-knob as thus made presents an elegant appearance-and, moreover, is superior for the purpose in other respects besides those already noted, such as its capacity for receiving sharply-cut accurate threads at b. The

threads, being formed in the rubber, are'elas tie, and therefore add this quality to their sharpness, so that the knob may be fitted with absolute recision and tightness upon the faucet-handle, andalso, not being itself metal, it will endure any amount of use without substantial injury.

These knobs are designed for high-class service where an extremely ornamental appearance is desirable and where neatness is imperative. The enameled disks a are susceptible to the most delicate color effects and artistic devices, and inasmuch as my invention renders corrosion thereof impossible there is no danger of discoloration at the edges, and the maker is warranted in lavishing greaten expense upon the decoration than would otherwise be the case. This process of tain a permanent and uniform color incapable of wearing off or becoming changed materially by moisture and usage. Also the de' vice as thus made is extremely durable. The color effects usually combine a dark-colored body portion and 'a light or tinted plate portion, and my invention enables the parts to be permanently joined and molded intofi xed relation Without any danger of corrosion, becoming soiled, or injured in any other way, inasmuch as the union of the two is effected device to mainouter face, pressing movably over the edges and against the enamel of the plate.

3. The hereinedescribed faucet-knob, comprising a vulcanized body portion, a faceplate-set against one side t ereof and inclosed y an overhanging part of said body portion extending integrally about the entire perimeter of said face-plate and in direct closing engagement therewith.

4. The herein-described faucet-knob, com: prising a vulcanized body portion, a faceplate set' into said body portion, and the latter extending integrally over against the front side of said plate about the edges thereof and forming a tight joint therewith, and a threadedpart for receiving the faucet-handle, the threads thereof being slightly elastic for making a close, tight fit, substantially impervious to moisture.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. RUETER.

mainly by the.vulcanizing step rather than by mechanical manipulation.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method, herein described, of making a' faucet-knob, consisting of forming a knob proper of vulcanizable material, partially vulcanizing the same, then placing the face-plate in position having a non-corrosive the partially-vulcanized material about the edges of said plate and against the outer mar in of saidnon-corro sive outer face, and fina 1y completing the vulcanization while the said material remains engaged about'the said edges.

2. The method of making a faucet-knob, consisting of forming a knob proper of vulcanizable material, with a metal plate whose outer face is enameled held against the outside thereof, then pressing a narrow rim of the vulcanizable material over the peripheral edges of said plate and against the enamel, and finally completely vulcanizing the said material and at the same time maintaining said narrow rim of the material pressed im- Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, JOHN E. formula. 

